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103 LearnersLast updated on October 9, 2025
Place Value of 32
32 has the digit 3 in the tens place, representing thirty. The digit 2 is in the ones place, representing two. Changing a digit's position changes its value significantly.
What is the Place Value of 32?
Numbers follow a fixed positional structure. The digit on the far right is in the ones place, representing single units. Moving left, the next digit is in the tens place.
A digit placed in the tens position carries a much greater value than it would in the ones. This is because each step to the left in a number increases the value of a digit by a factor of ten. In the case of 32, the 3 occupies the tens spot, which means it is worth thirty. The digit itself has not changed, but its position has multiplied its importance, turning a small figure into something larger in value.
A digit’s value depends entirely on its position in a number. The digit itself does not change, but the place it occupies can greatly increase or decrease its value within the whole number.
For example, 5 in the ones place is 5, but in the tens place, it’s 50.
How to Identify the Place Value of 32?
In the standard number system, place value is determined starting from the rightmost digit.
The sequence begins with ones, followed by tens, hundreds, and so on.
Each move to the left increases the value of the place by ten times the place before it. In 32: The digit 2 is in the ones place – value: 2 × 1 = 2
The digit 3 is in the tens place – value: 3 × 10 = 30
The digits in this number are positioned to form the value of thirty-two. If the position of the digits changes, the place value of the digits shifts, altering the number entirely.
Step-by-Step Process for Determining the Place Value of a Digit
Write the number so that all digits are clearly visible. Begin counting positions from the rightmost digit, naming them in order: ones, tens, hundreds, and so on.
- Identify the specific digit whose place value is required.
- Determine the value of that place according to its position in the sequence.
- Multiply the digit by the place value to find its exact worth.
- State the complete value, for example: “3 in the tens place = 30.”
Tips and Tricks to Master Place Value
Have you ever tried remembering something by sticking a post-it to your forehead? Place value sticks the same way, as in, it works when you anchor it in your senses and real life.
Let’s load your math toolbox with ideas you can actually use: Draw a place value chart by writing the headings “Ones, Tens, Hundreds” across the top.
Drop numbers in like puzzle pieces. Break big numbers into parts — For example, 32 becomes 30 + 2, which makes it easier to see.
Spot them in real life —
- Find the tens place in street numbers, odometers, or price tags.
- Point out the tens spot.
- Say it aloud – For instance, “The 3 in 32 is thirty.” Speaking it helps it stick.
- Turn it into a game – Pull random digits from a jar and arrange them into numbers, just to hunt for the tens place.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them in Place Value 32
Even the most careful learners can commit common mistakes when working with numbers. A tiny slip, such as miscounting a place, can completely change the value of the number.
Let’s look at the mistakes that happen most often, and how to sidestep them with ease.
Mistake 1
Confusing ones with tens.
It’s easy to lose count or slip up when the values of numbers start getting higher, but the trick is surprisingly easy to adapt. Begin with the ones place on the right and count across, one chair at a time, until you land exactly where you need to be. The more you practice it, the more natural it will feel, almost like counting steps as you walk to a familiar spot in your neighborhood.
Mistake 2
Skipping over the zero.
It’s easy to overlook zero since it doesn’t add value on its own, but it’s crucial for holding the number’s shape and order. Take it away, and the other digits slide into the wrong spots. It’s like taking the books out from the middle of a neatly stacked shelf — everything shifts and the order is lost.
Mistake 3
Mixing up which digit goes in which place.
Slow down and let your eyes travel across the digits. Start repeating the names of the places quietly to yourself, ones, tens, hundreds, until you land on the right one. A few seconds of careful reading can save you from a futile mistake.
Mistake 4
Stopping after finding the digit’s place.
Knowing which place the digit is in is only half the journey. The real value comes when you multiply it by what that place is worth. A 3 in the tens place isn’t just a three… it’s thirty. That small step changes everything.
Mistake 5
Overthinking an easy concept until it feels confusing
Numbers are easier to understand when you split them into parts you can work with. Tackle one part at a time and piece them back together. Place value works best when it’s understood in small, clear bites, not as one giant chunk that leaves you feeling lost.
Solved Examples on Place Value, 32
Problem 1
What’s the place value of 5 in 57?
It’s in the tens place → 5 × 10 = 50.
Explanation
In 57, the 5 is in the tens place. That position carries big weight — each digit here is worth ten. So this isn’t just a five, it’s enough to make fifty all on its own.
Problem 2
Find the place value of 7 in 72.
Digit 7 sits in the tens place → 7 × 10 = 70.
Explanation
If you read the number carefully, the 7 is sitting in the tens spot.
That means it’s worth seven lots of ten, which is seventy in total.
Same little digit, but the place it sits changes its value completely.
Problem 3
In 23, what’s the place value of 3?
That’s the ones spot → 3 × 1 = 3.
Explanation
Here, the 3 is parked in the rightmost position. That’s the ones place, so it stands for three units.
Problem 4
What’s the place value of 2 in 25?
Tens place → 2 × 10 = 20.
Explanation
This time, the 2 sits in the tens place. Being in that position means it’s worth twenty, not just two.
Problem 5
In 89, what’s the place value of 8?
Tens place → 8 × 10 = 80.
Explanation
In this number, the 8 comes first, occupying the tens position, so it represents eighty in total. That’s the power of where a digit is placed.
FAQs on Place Value, 32
1.Are 32 and thirty-two the same?
2.Can a decimal have a "tens" place?
3.Can a number smaller than 10 have a tens place?
4.Why should one count from the right instead of the left?
5.What is the place value of 3 in 32?
Important Glossaries for Place Value, 32
- Place Value – The value a digit has based on where it is in a number.
- Positional Notation – A method of representing or encoding numbers where the position of each digit affects its contribution to the overall value.
- Decimal System – A base-10 number system that is the standard system for denoting integers and non-integers.
- Placeholder – A digit, often zero, that determines the value of other digits in a number.
- Expanded Form – A way of writing numbers to show the value of each digit.
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Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana
About the Author
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
Fun Fact
: She loves to read number jokes and games.
